Vending machine



July 16, 1929. H, GILES 1,721,150

VENDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 21, 1926 10 Sheets-Sheet l c c o T 4 lMjf/PTO/YE a-wr ,26

THE/V 0 P011 18 67? F041 wan/o .5-

INVENTOR IVsWI E) 6/456 BY Z ATTORNEY 1 July 16, 1929. I H, GlLEs 1,721,150

VENDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 21, 1926 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 l N V E NTO R AAw/z-W .4455

ATTORNEY July 16, 19 29.

H. GILES VENDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 21, 1926 1 Sheets-Sheet 5 3/ INVENTOR ATTORNEY H. GILES July 16, 1929.

VENDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 21, 1926 10 sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR HARM-y 4/156 ATTORNEY I;all!!!illllllflillfiflllli/'4'!!! INVENTQR ATTORNEY Jul 16, 1929. H. GILES VENDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 21, 1926 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 July 16, 1929. H. GILES 1,721,150

VENDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 21, 1926 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR A/HFJ/E) 6/456 ATTORNEY July 16, 1929. H. GILES VENDING MACHINE 1O Sheets-Sheet Filed Jan. 21, 1926 lNVENTOR flew/f) 6/45.;

ATTORNEY July 16, 1929. H. GILEQS U 1,721,150

VENDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 21, 1926 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 1 INVENTOR ATTORNEY July 16, 1929. H. GILES 1,721,150

VENDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 21, 1926 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 M WM N m MJHH v wH m null NW 7 Ju1y16, 1929. H. GILES 1.72l,l50

VENDI NG MACHINE Filed Jan. 21, 1926 .10 Sheets-Sheet l0 INVENTOR flaw/5y 4/155 iz/(MW;

ATTORNEY Patented July 16, 1929.

umrsosrATEs Arsur eerie-s.

H RVEY-Guns, F BROOKLYN, NEWYYOR-K, AssreNoR '10 ARTEMAS WARD, me, on new YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

VENDING MACHINE.

Application filedJanuary21, 1926. Serial No. 82,662.

This invention relatesto improvements in vending machines and has particular reference to the provision'of coin controlled machines for vending packaged merchandise.

An import-ant object of my invention is the provision of a coin controlled vending machinewith a coin receiving and supporting carriage having adjustable coin support-ing meanswhereby to compensate for wear of the parts and to facilitate control of the machine by coins of different denominations.

Another object of my invention is'to provide such a machine with means to prevent entrance of a deposited coin to the coin carriage after the column of merchandise has be- -com'e exhausted and to return such coin to the purchaser.

Another object is to provide a coin controlled vending machine with a plurality of columns of like merchandise and a single coin deposit slotfor said like columns with means for deflecting the deposited coin from an ex h'austed column to one having merchandise therein. Another object .is to provide such a, device which will be simple'in construction, strong a and durable'in service,economical to manufacture and an improvement in the art.

lVitlrthese and other objects in view the V invention resides in the novel features of con struction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter set forth, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically pointed out in the appended claim In the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred form of the invention is shown in the way of illustration, Figure 1 is a front elevation, partly broken away, of a coin controlled vending machine made in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view on the line'22 of Figure 1; m

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the several removable sections of the machine ready to be introduced into the casing;

Figure l is a fragmentary vertical transverse sectional view through the operative mechanism of-the device, 7

Figure 5 is a front elevation of the lower portion of the tray for holding the packaged merchandise;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 4 taken on the line 66 ofFigure 11 and showing the lowermost package of oneof the columnsof merchandise partly displaced;

. Figure 7 is a View similar to Figure 6 and showing the com carnage 1n 1ts extreme rearward positlon immediately following the release of the lowermost package and the coin;

.of a coin to the coin carriage after both columns have become exhausted;

Figure 12 is a detail elevation of the coin guiding plate;

Figure 13 is a detail carriage per se; I

Figure l l is a detail plan view of the coin supporting means which is mounted for movement with the carriage, and

Figure 15 is a detail sectional view on the line 1515 of Figure 10.

Similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. I

The vending machine illustrated in the drawings comprises a main casing having a back wall 21, side walls 22, top and bottom walls 23 and 24, respectively, and a front wall 25. The front wall 25 includes a lower hinged section designated generally by the reference 1 character 26, and an upper removable section 27, all of these parts being substantially as disclosed in my U. S. Letters. Patent No.

1,476,361, issued December 1-, 1923, the presdisposed side by side. The lowermost package of each stack 29 is supported by flanges 31, and the rear wall 32 of the tray 28 is cut away at its lower end as shownat 33 to permit the rearward passage of the lowermost packplan view of the coinage to the delivery chute 34, in which the 'package drops by gravity and slides. for-i wardly to thedelivery opening below the section '26 of the front wall. the progressive downward dellvery oi the packages, weights 36 are disposed on top of each stack.

The operatlve mechanism 04 13116 machineis located below the tray 28, and 1s mounted as a unit behind the hinged section .26 of the front wall. It is designated generally by the reterence character 36, and includes a stationary frame having side plates 37, connected to gether at their lower front ends by aiplateior bar 38, which forms aguidefor the front end of atransversesliding-barSQ having a handle,

portion 40 extending through the lront wall 26. An offset plate 41 having auhorizontal portion 42' connects the plates 37. :ad aCent their .rear edges and a-transve'rse brace bar 43 extends'between the front plate 38-andthe rear plate 41, a reinforcingblock 44. serving to strengthen the jointbetween the members 41' and'43, said block alsojlimiting the r-earward movement ofthe sliding bar 39. The transverse brace barc43 :is provided with a longitudinal slot 45in whicha screw 46,,car-

riedbyfthe bar 39,, travels, whereby toguide I g :the rearward end of the'bar 36 in its movement. I

A pair of levers 46 are pivoted at 47 to rearwardly disposed. ears 48 of thefront plateL38, said levers-having depending mem bers 49, at their inner'ends, in engagement with a pin 5O which projects. laterally from each side of the sliding bar 39. Coil Springs 5.1 serve to holdthe levers 46, bar 39'and associated parts intheir.normalposition as. shown in Fig. 9, each spring having its forward end connected at 52 to oneof the levers 46, and

its rearwardend anchored as at53 to the hori-.

zontal plate 42. The forwardextremities of the le-vers46are bifurcatedteat 54 for sliding engageinentrwithdepending pins55carriedbyforwardly-extending side portions 56 of a horizontalcarriage 57 which receives an insertedjcoinz 58 and forces the lowermost package 30. from the corresponding stack 29 as willrhereinaiter be described. I riage 57 is preferably formed from sheet metal and includes upper and lower spaced body portionfiG, preferably of thicker mate-- rial than that of the carriage 57, and having To insure The carforwardly extending side members 67 adapted torest upon the side portions 56. Coiled tension springs .68 have their forward ends attached to pins 7 O on themeinbers 67, and their rearwardends secured to hooks 71 at the ends of the bar 59'. 'Thus a yielding connection is providedbetween. the carriage and the coin supporting membenguide pins or screws 72 of the members 67 operating in slots-73 of the carriage, andprojections. 74 on the rear edge oi the body portion 66 engaging the inner surface of, the bar 62whereby. to limitthe relativemovementof these partsin one direction. The projections 74 are provided with beveled-edges 75 to partially restrictthe passage' through the slotsGland to cooperate with the angular fingers 76 in supporting deposited coins .in the various slots. The fingers 76 may preferably be made in rights and;

lefts, one of eachbeing disposedbetween each pair of pro1ect1ons 74, sothatthe rearwardly diverging edge 77 ofeach finger 76 will partially restrict the-corresponding slot 7 I 61 at the oppositeend.from the beveled edge 7 5. Each finger 7 6 is'carriedby an enlarged body portion 78 provided with alongitudinal slot 7 9, through which a screw 80 extends into thebody portion 66, and. a flange81 prefer ing machine. After acoin has beenpresented' tothe carriage and the bar 39 drawn forwardly by means ofthe handle 40, motion is transmitted by the levers 46 to unove the'carriage 5.7 and. coin holder .66 rearwardly at thesame time, andiinsuchmovement the coin, being supported in a vertical positionfas shown inFig. 6, engagesthe lowermost package 30 ofthe corresponding stack andipushes itrearwardly until it passes beyond the infiuence of the flanges 31, whereupon it-fallsby gravity into the delivery chute 34 and is presented to theopening 35 from which the purchaser may readily remove it. I Simultaneous with the release of the package 30, rearward movement of theeoinsupport 66 is arrested by engagement ofitsdepending pins 82 engaging stops 83, here'shown as the edges I of apertures in plate 42., Then as the car-' riage completes the slightrem'aining portion ofits travehithe coin is drawn beyond the support of the members 7 5 and 76 and it drops down from the slot 61, through an opening 84 in plate 42, into a coin receptacle 85 below the operativemechanism. ,As the handle 40 is released, the'parts are returned to their initial positions by the action of the springs 51.

In order to control the delivery of the coin, I provide novel and simplified means whereby the coin will be prevented from entering a slot 61 whose corresponding stack of merchandise has become exhausted. and in the event that both stacks of the same kind have been sold out, the coin will be returned to the person depositing it. Referring particularly to Figures 4, 6, 8, 11, and 12, it will be seen thatIp'rovide an angularly disposed longitudinal plate 86, having a rearwardly and downwardly inclined portion 87 which terminates in a downwardly extending vertical portion 88. The inclined portion 87 may be provided with ears 89 by which it is loosely pivoted as at 90 to the side plates 37 of the frame 36, the upper edge 91 being'disposed immediately below the coin deposit slots 92 as best shown in Fig. 45, and the lower edge of the. vertical portion 88 terminating slightly above andin front of the slots 61 when the carriage 57 is in its normal position of rest.

a A slightly yieldable spring-member 93, car- 7 ried by the bar 39, engages the front surface .of the member 88 to hold it in desired position. I

Secured to the plates 37 and spaced from the vertical portion 88 of the plate 87 is a vertical plate 94 which, with the portion88,

forms a channel 95 for guiding the coins downwardly in vertical position to the slots 61 of the carriage. The plate 94- is apertured as at 96,the number of apertures preferably corresponding to the number of stacks of merchandise in the tray 28, and disposed in front of said stacks as best shown in Figure 8. Pivot rods 97 extend horizontally across the apertures 96 and support latches 98 in the wardly and upwardly extending coin stop member 102. When there is a column of packages in the tray behind a latch 98,-the

I finger 99 is held down so as to raise the member 102 away from'the plate 86 and permit passage of a coin to the channel 95. The

latches 98may preferably be arranged in pairs as best shown in Figure 8, one latch member of each pair being for each of the columns of similar "merchandise. In this manner after the first column 29 has become exhausted, the corresponding latch member 98 drops into the position shown in dotted lines in'Figure 4 so as to prevent passage of the subsequently deposited coins to the slot .61 of the carriage which underlies the extion in the carriage for displacing the lowermost package of the second column. In the event that both columns of like merchandise become exhausted, both of the cooperating latches 98 will drop so that their outer ends 102 will rest upon the guide-plate 87 so as to stop'the coins as they move downwardly on the plate 87 and prevent their entrance to the channel 95. In such an event as the purchaser pulls the handle No. 10 outwardly to reciprocate the bar 39 and actuate the carriage 57, the spring member 93 is also moved forwardly and the guide-plate 86 swings about its pivot 90 under the influence of gravity to a position shown in Figure 6, whereupon the arrested coin which has been held by the latches 98, as shown in Figure 11, will drop down through the operative mechanism and pass thefront side of the receptacle 85 to the bottom of the casing at the opening 35.

In this manner positive provision is made for returning coins to purchasers in the event that there is no supply of merchandise in the columns.

As the coins are inserted in the slots 92 they slide downwardly upon the inclined portion 87 of the plate 86and are deflected by angle members 103 so as to'pass over. detectors 104 which are pivoted at 105 to the plate. The detectors 10 1 are preferably formed'of relatively thin sheet metal and have a weighted body portion 106 which hangs downwardly from the pivotand a. projecting point 107 which extends slightly beyond the upper surface of the plate 87 in such a way as to engage and arrest an apertured washer or similar counterfeit which might be inserted in the machine. After the arrest of such a counterfeit, the forward movement of the lower end of the plate 87 will release the counterfeit and return it to the purchaser in a manner similar to the return of a regularly arrested coin. The lower vertical portion 88 of the plate 86 is preferably provided with projecting pins 108 which extend into the channel95 and guide the coins to their correct positions in the slots 61 of the carriage. In order to permit passage of the vertically supported coins, the stationary plate 9411351118 lower edge recessed, as at 109, and the lower front wall 101 of the tray 28 is similarly recessed at 110.

In order to prevent tampering with the machine by means of wires or the like inserted through the delivery chute 3 1, I provide a plurality of closure plates 111 which are pivoally mounted upon a supporting rod 112 extending between the side plates 37 of the stationary frame. Preferably the closure manner that their lower ends 11 1 will normally rest'against theinclined plate, and the arrangement is such that as the machine is operated, the lowermost package as it is ejected from one of the columns is forced against the closureplate 111, swingmg the samcrear-wardly as best shown in Figure 6 so as to permit the passage of the displaced packageto thedeh-very chute 341.

It is thought that the construction of myv vending machine will be clear from the foregoing description, and 1t 1s to be understood that the drawings are merely illustrative and not'presented in a limiting sense, since the invention 1s susceptible of various mod fications The precise machine illustrated inthe drawings is particularly intended for the carriage.

ticularly simple in construction and 'is so 10- cate'd -that-itmaybeactuated by direct. con.-

vending of chewing gum and other confections, but the principles of my invention'may be applied with equal advantages to machines for handling-other types ofanerchanchsc,

In usmgmy inventionthe various compartments of'the tray 28 .are supplied with the desired articles to be sold and'the operating mechanism 36 and coin receptacle S5. are properly installed below the-tray 28 after which the front 25 ofthecasing 20 is properly appliedand locked in. place. The operation of the coin supporting carriage in displacing merchandise from the various columns as wellas the operation of-thecoin stop-and return mechanisms have already been explained in detail, and such operations will be clearly understood from viewing the drawings with the foregoing explanation. The EPI'lIlClPiLl featuresof the invention reside in the provision of novel-uneans for supporting coins in vertical position in a slidable carriage, said carriage having slots apportioned to the columns of merchandise to be dispense'dand particularlycharacterized by for the coin holding means 77, 76, anumber of advantages are attained which were not possible with prior art structures.

- 'Another one the principal features of. l the invention resides in the com-stop mecha nism by which coins will be prevented from entering the coin carriage in the eventthat the corresponding column of merchandise has-become exhausted and such arrestedcolnswill bereturned'to the purchaser as the handle ofthe machine isdrawn outwardly to move the The coin-stop mechanism is paradjustable means for holding the coins insaid slots. By providing adjustability be obvious from the drawtact with the packagesboritained within the;

various columns and-as .has been previously pointed'out, the-coin stop mechanismwill be positively held outi ofthe paths of the coinswhen there ismerchandisewithin the-various columns.

The method supporting the tray 28,

operatingimechanism 36,;and coin receptacle maybe SllllllilDlIO the constructions Cl1S-.

closed. in my previously mentioned Patent No. 1,476,361'in'such azmanner than the various unitsmay be readily removed from the casing. as shown Figure 3, when desired.

From the foregoing it willbe evident that I I have provided an improved vending machine vhich will be simple in construction and durable in serviceandembodying the desire able features 'hereinipointed out. The right is herein reserved to :make suchchanges as fall within the scope I of the appended claims without departing from thespirit oftheinvention;

laying :thus I claim is a e r 1; Ina vending machine, a main casing describedmy invention, what having a coin-deposit slot; atrayfor-support;

ing a pair of columns of packaged inerchan dise within the casing; operat ve mechanism including axcarria ge for receiving adeposited com; means for, moving the carriage and coin to. d isp'la-ce; the lowermost p aclrage from one of the columnsgrandcoin deflectors pivoted on substantially I horizontal. axes in front of the columns whereby to deflect the coins to a position in the carr age mrlme with the secondcolunn after the first columnhas become exhausted, said:coindeflectors having portions -e-ngageable by merchand se 1n the respective #column-s to hold them out of the paths of movementof the-inserted coins and g which, when disengaged due to I depletion of the merchandise are actuatedvby gravity 'tol move into the-pathsfiofthe coins.

.2. In a 'vendingnmachine, a-main casing having a coin-deposit slot; a tray for-support.- ingja'pair o f columnsof packaged merchandise wi thin the casing; operative mechanismincludingnacarriage for receiving a deposited coin; means formovingthe-carriage and cointo displace :the lowermostpackage from one,

of the columns and a pairrof latch members pivoted in frontofgthecolumns, said latch members having-portions engageable bythe merchandise in the respectivecolumns to hold them normally out of-thepathsofthe inserted coins, andwhich when disengaged due to the depletion ofathemerchandise, areactuated by a gravity tomove into the paths ofthecoins,

the latch members functioningfseparately to deflect the coins to a position inthe carriage in line with thesecond.column afterth e first column has become exhausted, and function- .ing jointly to prevent passage of t-hecoins to the carriage-after both columnsflhavebe comeexhausted. r M p In a coin-controlled vending machine :'having coin-entrance slots, a tray for holding vertical columns of merchandise to be sold, an exposed operating handle, a horizontally slidable carriage operable from said handle, said carriage having vertical coin slots apportioned to thecolunins, a transverse bar mount ed' on the carriage and provided with projections crossing the coin slots to support coins on edge in the slots, means for varying the distance between the projections of each slot, means for arresting said bar at a predetermined point during the operative move ment of said carriage and before said movement has ceased whereby said vertical slots are carried beyond the projections to release the coins, and springs connecting said bar and carriage whereby to restore the normal relation of the bar and carriage on the reverse movement of the carriage.

a. In a coin-controlled vending machine having coin-entrance slots, a tray for holding vertical columns of merchandise to be sold, an exposed operating handle, a horizontally slidable carriage operable from said handle, said'carriage having vertical coin slots apportioned to the columns, a transverse bar mounted on the carriage and provided with spaced integral projections crossing one end of each coinslot and adjustable projections crossing theother end of each coin slot, said projections being adapted to support coins on edge in the coin slots and the adjustable projections permitting variation of the distance between each pair of co-operating pro jections, means for arresting said bar at a predetermined point during the operative movement of said carriage and before said movement has ceased whereby said vertical slots are carried beyond the projections to release the coins, and springs connecting said bar and carriage whereby to restore the normal relation of the bar and carriage on the reverse movement of the carriage.

In a coin-controlled vending machine having coin-entrance slots, a tray for holding vertical columns of merchandise to be sold, an'exposed operating handle, a horizontally slidable carriage operable from said handle,

- said carriage having vertical coin slots appor tioned to the columns, a transverse bar mounted on the carriage and provided with spaced integral pro ections crossing one end or each coin slot, adjustable fingers carried by the transverse bar and extending into the coin slots, each finger co-operating with one of the integral projections to support a coin vertically in one of the slots, whereby the coin will engage and displace the lowermost package from the corresponding column in the tray when the carriage is actuated, means for arresting said bar at a predetermined point during the operative movement of said carriage after said lowermost package has been displaced, whereby the vertical slots are carried beyond the projections and fingers to release the coins, and means for restoring the normal relation of the bar and carriage on the reverse movement of the carriage.

6. In a coin-controlled vending machine, the combination with a casing havingcoin entrance openings, and a tray for supporting vertical columns of merchandise to be sold, of operative mechanism including a carriage transversely slidable below the columns, said carriage being formed of sheet material and having a pair of spaced horizontal portions provided with alined vertical coin slots, and coin supporting members arranged in pairs between the horizontal portions, each pair restricting the passage through one of the coin slots to support a coin vertically therein, and one member of each pair being adjustable to vary the separation of the pair, a handle projectingthrough the casing, means for slidingthe carriage by operation of the handle to displace one of the packages of merchandise from the column, means for releasing the coin from the coin supporting members after displacement of said package, and springs for returning the parts to normal position.

7. In a coin-controlled vending machine, the combination with a casing having coin entrance openings, and a tray for supporting vertical columns of merchandise to be sold,

of operative mechanism including a carriage transversely slida'ble below the columns, said carriage having vertical coin slots apportioned to the columns and adjustable coin supports restricting the passage of coins through said slots, a handle extending through the casing for actuating the carriage, coin-guiding means including an inclined plate and a narrow vertical passageway for directing inserted coins from the coin entrance openings to the coin slots of the carriage, and coin-stop means adapted to arrest coins and prevent their entrance to a coin slot after the corresponding column of merchandise has become exhausted, said coin-stop means including latches pivoted at the top of the vertical passageway and having portions adapted to lie against the inclined plate in the path 01": the coins when the column is empty, and a finger directly engaged by the merchandise to control the position of the latches, and means for simultaneously moving the carriage rearwardly and tilting the inclined plate downwardly, substantially as set forth.

8. In a vending machine a main casing having a coin-deposit slot, a tray for supporting a column of packaged merchandise within the casing, and operative mechanism for receiving a deposited coin and for moving it against the lowermost package of the column to displace said package, said mechanism including a reciprocatable carriage for maintaining the coin in operative position, a reciprocatable bar having a handle at its for- I Wand end-projecting from; the casing, connectingmeans bevtweenithe.cmzriage and said bar, and 2L supporting;framegfor saidpcarriage and bar, said; frame including; spaced 7 I 5 vparallel sideplates rigidly cennectecl together 7. byfnontandback longitudinal plntes, a trans- "inverse braeemember extend ngbetween sald front and back vgla-tes intermedintefltheir ends,.

andea: reinforcing block providing a sub stan- HARVEY GILES-f 

